THE TREE OF LIFE AND THE LIFE OF TREES

SERMON
Readings: This sermon is mainly based on Genesis 2:8-17. If other readings are needed, it is
suggested that Revelation 22:1-5 is used as a New Testament reading, and if a Gospel
reading is required, then Luke 13:18-21 (the Parables of the Mustard Seed and the Yeast).
There is a PowerPoint presentation with slides to accompany this sermon, although it is not
essential. There are notes during the sermon to indicate where to change slides.

Reading from Genesis 2:8-17

8 Now the Lord God had planted a garden in the east, in Eden; and there he put the man he
had formed. 9 The Lord God made all kinds of trees grow out of the ground - trees that were
pleasing to the eye and good for food. In the middle of the garden were the tree of life and
the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. 10 A river watering the garden flowed from Eden;
from there it was separated into four headwaters. 11 The name of the first is the Pishon; it
winds through the entire land of Havilah, where there is gold. 12 (The gold of that land is
good; aromatic resin and onyx are also there.) 13 The name of the second river is the Gihon;
it winds through the entire land of Cush. 14 The name of the third river is the Tigris; it runs
along the east side of Ashur. And the fourth river is the Euphrates. 15 The Lord God took the
man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it. 16 And the Lord God
commanded the man, You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; 17 but you must not
eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will
certainly die.

Introduction
[SLIDE 1]

I want to begin with a question: What does life depend on?

[SLIDE 2]

Putting it differently: what is most vital for the survival of human life on planet earth? Of
course the right answer (and if we were all a Sunday School class of children wed already
be straining our arms and whispering it loudly) is God. And our Sunday School selves would
be quite right: God is the fount of all being, the source of our life, the creator, the sustainer,
the One on whom all things depend. But lets put the question another way: How has God
set up life on planet earth? If we primarily depend on God, what do we depend on in a
secondary sense? What are Gods chosen means - physical, chemical and biological means by which life succeeds or fails?
Thats a more complex question. [Depending on how informal your church is, it might be
good to get people to talk to their neighbours for a couple of minutes and then shout
answers out.] The obvious answers are things like food, water, soil, fuel, and air to breathe

THE TREE OF LIFE AND THE LIFE OF TREES

(and a liveable atmosphere to regulate temperature and provide fresh air). Without these,
life cannot exist. They are or at least should be - daily reminders to us that we cannot live
our lives independently we are created to be dependent within the community of creation
within our global ecosystem.

Why trees?
Today we are going to focus on trees.
[SLIDE 3]

Trees may seem a surprising topic for a service, but actually the Bible has plenty to say
about trees, from its very first chapter to its last one, and well only have time to touch on a
little of what the Bible says. But trees are also important because they are at the heart of
our interdependence. So many of lifes vital ingredients: clean air; fresh water; nourishing
food; fuel for warmth are all totally dependent on trees.
[SLIDE 4]

Listen to what Dr. Martin Kaonga, Director of Science & Conservation for Christian
conservation charity, A Rocha International, has to say about trees:
[Where possible, play video clip. Where this is not possible, read out the following
paragraph and ideally display it on a screen too.]
[SLIDE 5]

Trees are an invaluable part of our world. In fact there would be no life on earth
without trees and other plants. They produce oxygen for us and other animals to use,
and they absorb the carbon dioxide we breathe out! Trees also provide habitat and
food for countless animals, and food and medicines for people. Forests are the
nurseries of life they contain more species per hectare than any other kind of landbased habitat.
[SLIDE 6]

Thats why we need to protect them, and why the work of A Rochas tropical forests
programme is so important. Around the world we are working with Christian
communities who live in or near to, and depend on forests, from Peru and Brazil, to
Kenya and Ghana, across to India. The people who live around these forests are with
us trustees of these wonderful parts of Gods creation.
[SLIDE 7]

Working with local Christian communities we can help prevent deforestation, and learn
more of Gods purposes and Gods handiwork. Trees also have an important place in
the Bible! They are signs of life and Gods provisionfrom the trees in the Garden to

THE TREE OF LIFE AND THE LIFE OF TREES

Eden to the Tree of Life in the New Jerusalem. Wherever we live, we have trees as our
neighbours, and we can help care for them, study their ecology, and take part in treeplanting.
Lets turn to the Bible. In Genesis 2 verse 9, God places the first human being in a garden
and we read:
[SLIDE 8]

The Lord God made all kinds of trees grow out of the ground - trees that were pleasing to
the eye and good for food. In the middle of the garden were the tree of life and the tree of
the knowledge of good and evil. There are several things we can take from this:

Trees are good for us

Firstly, a garden full of trees was the starting point for human life trees that would meet
our needs they were good for food and also trees that would lift our spirits and inspire
our creativity they were pleasing to the eye. We were created to be surrounded by trees.
Think of cities you know, and how parks, gardens and areas with trees raise peoples spirits,
as well as keeping the city cooler and the air cleaner. We know that this planets land
surfaces were once largely covered in trees and forests.
[SLIDE 9]

Over time we have destroyed most of those forests, and deforestation still continues.
According to the WWF (Worldwide Fund for Nature) the world has lost half its forests, and
only a tenth of what remains is protected. Each year, we lose another 130,000 km2 an area
the size of England or Greece larger than countries like Cuba, Malawi or North Korea. As
we do so, we lose areas that are good for food and also pleasing to the eye important for
well-being.
[SLIDE 10]

So, thats our first point: trees are good for us. God made us to live in a tree-filled
environment, and we thrive physically, mentally and in fact spiritually when we have trees
around us.

Trees arent just for us

Secondly, the Bible is clear that all of this wasnt created just for us - for human beings. In
Genesis 1, plants and trees are made both for people and also for the beasts of the earth
and all the birds in the sky and all the creatures that move along the ground.
[SLIDE 11]

God has made this earth as a system of abundance and of interdependence. As we destroy
forests around the world, we destroy the habitats of many of our God-created fellow
creatures. Forests are not only amongst the most biodiverse ecosystems that exist, they also

THE TREE OF LIFE AND THE LIFE OF TREES

consist of species that are fine-tuned to their habitats. When the forests have gone, Orangutans and Amazonian Parrots have nowhere else to go, and neither do the many millions of
smaller, less photogenic but equally important species frogs, orchids, insects, fungi and so
on. As Martin Kaonga says, these creatures and their habitats need protecting not only
because our well-being is ultimately tied to theirs - we are destroying the systems on which
life depends - but also because they matter to God. He created this world for them as well
as for us, and, according to Genesis 2:15 he gave us a very special role and responsibility in
tending and caring for the garden the trees and the creatures that depend on those trees.
So, thats our second main point: Trees are vital for the diversity of life a diversity that God
cherishes and calls us to serve and preserve.

A tale of two trees

Thirdly, we have the two special trees in the garden the tree of life, and the tree of the
knowledge of good and evil.
[SLIDE 12]

Lets look at these two trees in turn and see what we can learn from them of course weve
no idea what they actually looked like or what sort of fruit they bore. Firstly, the tree of the
knowledge of good and evil: Adam and Eve were forbidden to eat its fruit on pain of death,
but of course they disobeyed, ate, lost their life-giving relationship with God, and were
thrown out of the garden. Theologians have spilled plenty of ink on exactly what this tree
symbolises, but one thing seems to be clear: its not knowledge itself thats wrong. God
doesnt want us wallowing in ignorance. Its rather the way we go about getting that
knowledge that can be the problem. Grabbing at it for ourselves in a selfish and disobedient
way is what causes the fall from grace, and all its consequences. The sin is not just
disobeying Gods command; it is also the attempt to gain knowledge independently of God.
This becomes clear when we look at the other tree the tree of life. Unlike the tree of
knowledge, this reappears again in the Bible, several times in Proverbs and then right at the
end in Revelation.
[SLIDE 13a]

In Proverbs 3:18 were told that Wisdom is a tree of life to those who take hold of her.
Wisdom, in the Bible, is different from simple knowledge. Were told Wisdom begins with
the fear of the Lord: Fear not as in terror but as in awestruck respect the kind of feeling
we get when we watch the wonders of nature a range of ice-capped mountains, the
crashing of ocean waves, a numberless herd of Wildebeest, or simply looking at a tree
maybe a massive Redwood, or an ancient Banyan or Oak tree, and wondering how many
human lives it has stood there for and what changes it has weathered. In the Bible, wisdom
is closely related to observing and learning from wild nature.
[SLIDE 13b click to advance]

THE TREE OF LIFE AND THE LIFE OF TREES

King Solomons wisdom, according to 1 Kings 4:33 included speaking about plant life, from
the cedar of Lebanon (surely the most famous tree of that era) to the hyssop that grows out
of walls. He also spoke about animals and birds, reptiles and fish. Wisdom is knowledge for
life which is rooted in a healthy relationship with God and a healthy relationship with Gods
creation including trees. That is what the tree of life is about. It is about God-centred
wisdom, wise living, in the light of Gods power, Gods knowledge, Gods love.
[SLIDE 14]

Thats why, in the Bibles final chapter Revelation 22, the vision of Gods new creation when
all things will be made new and this world will be cleansed of all that is wrong and radically
reshaped, contains the tree of life planted on both banks of the river of life, and bearing
fruit every month, fruit that brings healing and restoration. New creation is Eden restored
and re-imagined a garden city rather than simply a garden but one where the life of
trees is important.
Of course the other great tree in the Bible is the cross on which Jesus Christ the carpenter
King was crucified.
[SLIDE 15]

In 1 Peter 2:24 this is referred to in the words: He himself bore our sins in his body on the
tree. Throughout Christian history, the cross has been seen as the great tree of life
rejected in the Garden of Eden, but replanted in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus.
Through this tree we are shown that Gods wisdom is very different from the worlds
wisdom. It overturns all our attempts to save ourselves, and it reminds us that we are totally
dependent on God.
[SLIDE 16]

Bringing this together, the two trees in Eden are about a fundamental choice that we face as
humans. Do we choose life and God-centred Wisdom, or death in the form of self-centred
knowledge. They are two ways of seeing the world. Is it a place of vibrant, multiform life,
each part miraculously infused with Gods touch, or is it simply stuff to be grabbed,
exploited, consumed and destroyed like the tree of knowledge of good and evil. The
choice God gave Adam and Eve is our choice today. The choice we face is to choose life, or
to choose self-seeking knowledge which leads to death. In Deuteronomy 30:19, God says to
people of Israel This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I
have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and
your children may live.

Acting for Trees

And that brings us back to how we relate to trees today in a practical down-to-earth way.
Weve come a long way from Eden, and weve destroyed most of the trees God created en
route. There are many things we can do:

THE TREE OF LIFE AND THE LIFE OF TREES

Firstly, if trees are good for us, then get to know some trees especially your near
neighbours!

[SLIDE 17]

Maybe set yourself a target of learning 10 different local tree species in the next month.
Or why not work with together to produce a booklet or pack for schools on your local
trees.? Churches in several countries have developed booklets describing the trees
growing in their churchyard or local area, identifying them, labelling them and
explaining what they are useful for. A Rocha India helped a church in Bangalore produce
a 40 page booklet, mapping, photographing and describing all the trees in their
churchyard, and how they are useful as well as beautiful. Or why not do a tree census in
your local community? In Anapolis, Pennsylvania, A Rocha USA worked with local
people in a project called Listening to our Trees. Ginny Vroblesky, who coordinated the
project, says: Local trees generate wonderful opportunities for conversations within a
community. People are curious about where they live. Scientists may try to justify
preserving trees from a utilitarian point of view. Residents, however, are interested in
trees for other reasons: I planted a tree when each of my children was born. I
remember when this whole area was an apple orchard. Or they may plant trees to
make a statement or to attract particular species of birds.

Secondly, if trees arent just for us but weve destroyed so many of the worlds trees,
why not plant some trees? [If you are doing the Act of Commitment involving planting
seeds or trees see Service Order then mention that here.]

[SLIDE 18]

You can plant trees locally or support A Rocha, or its offshoot Climate Stewards, to pay
for trees to be planted in tropical countries where deforestation is worst and the need
is greatest. Supporting A Rochas Tropical Forests Programme is a great way of both
planting trees, and also supporting the wildlife and the people who live around them.
Wangaari Maathai, the Nobel Peace Price winning Kenyan who inspired the planting of
millions of trees said this: After all, Christ was crucified on the cross. In a light touch, I
always say, somebody had to go into the forest, cut a tree, and chop it up for Jesus to
be crucified. What a great celebration of his conquering [death] it would be if we were
to plant trees on Easter Monday in thanksgiving.1 Planting trees helps absorb CO2,
prevent soil erosion, give shade and shelter, and can produce fruits, nuts, fibre and
medicines as well as a home for local wildlife.

Finally, if were to choose life and Gods wisdom, rather than the self-seeking
knowledge that our materialistic world is built upon, we need to look hard at our
lifestyles and our priorities.

[SLIDE 19]
1

www.greenbeltmovement.org/a.php?id=115 Heaven Is Green: An Interview With Wangari Maathai

THE TREE OF LIFE AND THE LIFE OF TREES

If we are part of one earth community along with all the other creatures and the plants
and trees, then our human footprint has grown much too large. Just as we depend on
trees, so trees depend on us. If we are to see a future both for our children and for
trees that could live for hundreds of years, then we need to change. When we look back
at our lives, their significance does not consist in the size of our house, car or bank
balance, or in the number of possessions we have. Psalm 1 pictures us as just like trees.
What trees need is very simple deep roots into good soil, plenty of sun, and rain in
due season. What we need is equally simple to be rooted deeply in dependence on
God and Gods word, and to know our co-dependence on Gods creation. Jesus put it in
terms of seeking first Gods Kingdom and his righteousness, and everything else will
follow on. Perhaps we need trees not just for oxygen, food, water, medicine, shade and
fuel. Perhaps we need to learn from them too. Perhaps then well see Isaiahs vision
come to pass: You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills
will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands.
Instead of the thornbush will grow the juniper, and instead of briers the myrtle will
grow. This will be for the Lords renown, for an everlasting sign, that will endure
forever. (Isaiah 55: 12-13)